Modular Medical Apparel

ABSTRACT

Modular clothing that may easily be placed on or removed from a patient without disturbing the medical equipment or the patient. The apparel looks like sportswear clothing but is functional clothing adaptable to medical treatment and equipment and is intended to replace the traditional hospital gown. The clothing is provided with one or more detachable seams extending along the sides of the garment to allow the clothing to be removed from the side.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefits of priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/135,556, filed Jul. 22, 2008; and is a divisional of application Ser. No. 12/459,951, filed Jul. 10, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to modular apparel that can be used on medical patients. For the patient receiving home health care or hospital inpatient and outpatient care, suitable clothing that is easy to change is a major issue. The patient is concerned with his or her appearance and comfort while the caregiver is concerned with the ability to access medical equipment and/or change the clothing without causing injury or discomfort to the patient. Because the patient may have very limited mobility, changing the patient's clothing is often very difficult. Traditional hospital gowns use excessive amounts of fabrics that can bunch up and lead to bruising or bed sores on the patient.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide clothing that allows easy access to the patient's body for treatment and monitoring medical equipment while providing dignity, privacy and comfort to the patient.

It is a further object of the present invention to use a minimal amount of fabric so as to overcome common issues created by the traditional hospital gown are eliminated for the patient.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide clothing that can be worn in the hospital bed as well as in public without causing the patient embarrassment due to the appearance of the clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides clothing that allows easy access to the patient's body for treatment and monitoring medical equipment while providing dignity, privacy and comfort to the patient. The present invention has been reviewed by physicians, nurses, Hospice nurses and caregivers, physical therapists, occupational therapists and nursing attendants.

The present invention is intended for use by patients of all ages and gender whom may be receiving medical care in hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, or at home and are (1) recovering from surgery, (2) receiving sports medicine treatment, (3) cancer patients receiving chemo therapy and radiation treatment, and/or (4) receiving rehabilitation physical or occupational therapy.

The apparel that is subject to the present invention is designed to look like sportswear clothing but is adapted to meet the needs of patients and caregivers and to accommodate medical treatment and equipment. This apparel can be worn instead of the traditional hospital gown and is easy for the caregiver and easy on the patient. The pulling and tugging at clothing that is normally required to change, replace or reposition clothing is replaced by simply slipping the pants around the legs and snapping them in place. Snap plackets are positioned on the apparel so that the patient does not lie on the snap plackets, thereby reducing the opportunity for bruising and bed sores to occur. Common issues created by the traditional hospital gown are eliminated for the patient.

Accordingly, the above objectives are accomplished according to the present invention by providing a modular pair of pants is provided wherein said pants comprise: a front panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer edge, a first inner edge and a second inner edge; a rear panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer edge, a first inner edge and a second inner edge, wherein said rear panel is joined to said front panel such that said rear panel and said front panel are only detachable along said first outer edge, said first inner edge and said second inner edge; a first releasable seam disposed along said outer edge of said front panel and said rear panel; a second releasable seam disposed along said first inner edge of said front panel and said rear panel; a third releasable seam disposed along a portion of said second inner edge of said front panel and said rear panel; a waist band defining a torso opening when said first releasable seam is placed in a secured position; a first leg opening defined by a portion of said lower edge of said front panel and said rear panel when said first and said second releasable seams are placed in said secured position; and a second leg opening defined by a portion of said lower edge of said front panel and said rear panel when said third releasable seam is placed in said secured position.

The present invention was designed and manufactured in honor and memory of Lt. Colonel A. P. Barry, USMC, Retired, husband of the inventor, Elizabeth L. Taylor-Barry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a front plan view of shorts in a closed position according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front plan view of shorts in an open position according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of shorts in an open position according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of shorts in a closed position according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows front plan view of pants in a closed position according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a side view of pants in a open and slightly folded position.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can meet certain other objectives. Each objective may not apply equally, in all its respects, to every aspect of this invention. As such, the preceding objects can be viewed in the alternative with respect to any one aspect of this invention. These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying figures and examples. However, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are of a preferred embodiment and not restrictive of the invention or other alternate embodiments of the invention. In particular, while the invention is described herein with reference to a number of specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative of the invention and is not constructed as limiting of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, shorts employing the present invention are shown. The shorts, generally shown as B, include waist line 28 defining a torso opening and two leg openings 30 and 32. The shorts include a first seam 34 extending from along one entire side of the shorts from the waist line 28 to the bottom of one of the leg openings 32. In one embodiment, the waistline is elastic and includes a drawstring 35 on one side for securing the waistline 28 together at the top of the seam 34. The shorts also include a second seam 36 extending along the entire inseam and crotch of the shorts. The seams include fasteners 24 disposed along the seams. In one embodiment the shorts may replace a traditional zipper 40 with fasteners.

The shorts may easily be removed by first placing the seams 34 and 36 in an open position by disengaging the fasteners. Once the seams have been placed in an open position, the shorts may be unfolded so that the shorts may be removed from the patient without having to manipulate the patient's legs or feet or disturbing any tubes, IV's or catheters. To place the shorts on the patient, the back of the shorts may be placed beneath the patient and the front of the shorts then folded over the patient and the seams 34 and 36 are placed in a secured position by aligning the seams and securing the fasteners 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, the invention may be applied to pants C as well. Much like the shorts, the pants include a waistline 28 having a drawstring 35 and a first seam 34 that extends from the waist line to a leg opening, and a second seam 36 extending along the entire inseam and crotch of the pants. The pants are also equipped with non-binding ankle cuffs 42. Much like the shorts, the pants may be removed by simply placing the seams 34 and 36 in an open position and unfolding the front of the pants from the back of the pants. The pants may be secured to the patient by placing the back of the pants underneath the patient, folding the front of the pants over the patient and placing the seams 34 and 36 in a secured position. In one embodiment, the pants may further include detachable pant legs by providing a third seam (not shown) that extends circumferentially around the pant leg so that it may be removed for amputees.

The present invention can be applied to any style of shorts or pants including boxer length shorts, knee length shorts and ankle length pants. Regardless of style, the shorts and pants have extra long rise to accommodate for catheters, diapers and other medical equipment that may need to be placed inside of the pants or shorts.

The garments of this invention may be manufactured from any suitable materials, such as cotton, polyester, cotton-polyester blends, moisture absorbent materials, germ resistant materials and/or flame retardant materials.

These garments provide the advantage of using a minimum amount of fabric so as to prevent it bunching up and creating impressions in the patient's skin which lead to bed sores and bruising. Further, the use of fasteners alleviates the need to use tie knots that are used in traditional gowns which can also lead to sores and bruising.

By allowing the garments to be removed from the side of the patient, there is little disturbance to the medical equipment attached to the patient and limited patient mobility is need by the patient. Any of the modular medical apparel according to the present invention may be slipped onto the patient's body rather than pulling the clothing over the patient's legs. The apparel slips on one side of the body by rolling the patient on his or her side. The patient is then rolled over and the apparel is folded over the patient so as to align the seam and the fasteners disposed along the seam are then snapped into place. This allows the adjustment or changing of the patient's clothing without disturbing medical tubing and other equipment. Moreover, limited motion of the patient is required to fully undress or dress a patient when using the modular medical apparel according to the present invention.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims. 

1. A modular pair of pants comprising: a front panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer edge, a first inner edge and a second inner edge; a rear panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer edge, a first inner edge and a second inner edge, wherein said rear panel is joined to said front panel such that said rear panel and said front panel are only detachable along said first outer edge, said first inner edge and said second inner edge; a first releasable seam disposed along said outer edge of said front panel and said rear panel; a second releasable seam disposed along said first inner edge of said front panel and said rear panel; a third releasable seam disposed along a portion of said second inner edge of said front panel and said rear panel; a waist band defining a torso opening when said first releasable seam is placed in a secured position a first leg opening defined by a portion of said lower edge of said front panel and said rear panel when said first and said second releasable seams are placed in said secured position; and a second leg opening defined by a portion of said lower edge of said front panel and said rear panel when said third releasable seam is placed in said secured position.
 2. The modular pair of pants of claim 1 wherein said waist band is elastic.
 3. The modular pair of pants of claim 1 further comprising a drawstring disposed in said waist band.
 4. The modular pair of pants of claim 1 further comprising a pair of elastic ankle cuffs defining said first and said second leg openings. 